Double suction cup vacuum holder

ABSTRACT

An integral web on a double suction cup vacuum holder includes the axis of a stem connecting the two suction cups. When the web is pressed inward, toward the stem, the lip of one or both of the suction cups is raised, thus spoiling the vacuum therein and releasing the holder. A diametrical hole through the stem, normal to the webs, provides convenient attachment means for inserting a pole or strap or other item. Additional items are readily attached to the pole or strap.

United States Patent 1 Flick 1 1 Apr. 22, 1975 DOUBLE SUCTION CUP VACUUMHOLDER [75] Inventor: Joseph J. Flick, Amarillo, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Oliver W. Bivins, Amarillo, Tex. a

part interest 22 Filed: Apr. 17, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 461,619

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Scr. No. 300383, Oct. 24,1972.

[52] U.S. Cl 248/206 R; 248/362 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6b 47/00 [58] Field ofSearch 248/362, 363, 206; 339/12; 24/73 VA [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,228,649 6/1917 Childs 248/206 R 1,743,442 1/1930Fanslav et a1 1,883,791 10/1932 .lcwcll 248/206 R 2.024.429 12/1938Casey 248/206 R 2,319,727 5/1943 2,385,977 10/1945 2.886277 5/1959 Bohamet a1 248/206 Primary E.\'aminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-RobertA. Hafer Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Wendell Coffee [57] ABSTRACT Anintegral web on a double suction cup vacuum holder includes the axis ofa stem connecting the two suction cups. When the web is pressed inward,toward the stem, the lip of one or both of the suction cups is raised,thus spoiling the vacuum therein and releasing the holder. A diametricalhole through the stem, normal to the webs, provides convenientattachment means for inserting a pole or strap or other item. Additionalitems are readily attached to the pole or strap.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DOUBLE SUCTION CUP VACUUM HOLDERCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisionof my prior application Ser. No. 300.383 filed Oct. 24. I972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to vacuum hold-down supports.

2. Description of the Prior Art Vacuum holders or suction cups have longbeen known to the art. They have many uses such as holding items onglass or for carrying glass or for forming a holder on the top of anautomobile carrying luggage or sports equipment such as surf boards.

Vacuum holders also are used for work holders on machine tools.

A problem exists as to how to spoil the vacuum to release the holder.Prior workers suggest providing a valve which may be opened to permitatmosphere to enter the suction cup which releases same. Other patentsshow double suction cups wherein the two suction cups are connected byan air passageway. If the disclosure is properly understood. others havesuggested that the article be pushed away from the vacuum holder.Childs. US. Pat. No. 1.228.649. suggested that two suction cups could beused connected by a stem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I. New and Different Function.

I have invented a vacuum holder having two suction cups connected by astem. The stem has a diametrical hole therethrough so a pole or otherstructure can be extended through the hole to attach items to thesuction cups.

A diametrical web extends from one suction cup to the other and isattached to the stem. The web is integral with the suction cups andstem. Pressure on the web lifts the lip of the suction cup and breaksthe vacuum. This inexpensive web makes it possible to easily spoil thevacuum of the suction cups and release the suction cups.

An object of this invention is to provide a vacuum suction cup support.

Another object is to provide a suction cup to which objects may beeasily attached and readily spoils the vacuum.

Other objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy.compact. durable. lightweight. simple. safe. efficient. versatile. andreliable. yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install. operate. andmaintain.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a method that isversatile. rapid. efficient. and inexpensive. and does not requireskilled people to install. adjust. operate. and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention. as well as other objects. uses.and advantages thereof. will clearly appear from the followingdescription and from the accompanying drawing. the different views ofwhich are not necessarily to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of adevice according to my invention.

along line 22 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken substantially along lines 33 ofFIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more specifically tothe drawing. FIGS. I. 2. and 3, show vacuum device 10. The device hasbottom suction cup 12 and top suction cup I4 connected by stem 16. Itwill be understood that the bottom cup 12 and the top cup 14 areidentical and the device 10 is symetrical so that upon inversion. thetop and bottom cups are reversed. but for the purpose of designation.they are called top and bottom.

The entire device 10 is made of rubber. By the term rubber I do not meanto limit it to natural rubber. but also include those syntheticmaterials which have rubber-like properties.

Both cups I2 and 14 are arcuate and have lip 18. The suction cupsthemselves are entirely conventional and have basically sphericalconcavity 20 and operates in the customary manner.

The circular cylindrical stem I6 connecting the two cups is coaxial withthe cups. I.e.. the axis of the stem 16 would intersect the center pointof the sphere or are generating the concavity 20.

The stem has circular cylindrical hole 22 extending diametricallytherethrough.

Webs 24 extend and are integral with the cups I2 and I4 and with thestem 16 and extend as illustrated. The webs contain the axis of thestem. The webs 24 are at right angles to the axis of the circularcylindrical hole 22. Each web 24 forms structure which is attached atthe lip of each cup and to the stem 16. The web 24 extends -from the cup12 along the stem 16 to the other cup 14. It may be seen that if theedge 26 of either web is pushed inward toward the stem. this causes thelip 18 to be moved. If the suction cups are attached to some surface.the pressure or pushing in upon the edges 26 of the webs 24 lift thelips I8 and spoil the vacuum formed within the suction cups l2 and I4;thus providing an easy release. If the web 24 is pushed near the bottomcup 12. the vacuum in the bottom cup I2 is spoiled. Pushing web 24 nearthe top will spoil the vacuum in the top cup 14. Pushing the edges inthe center will release both cups.

Although the drawings are not meant to be a scale. I have had goodresults making the cups 85mm in diameter. the stem 37mm in diameter andabout 40mm long from the backside of the cup 12 to the back side of thecup 14. the hole through the stem 25mm in diameter annd the webs 5mmthick. The total height of the vacuum device 10 from the lip I8 of thecup 12 to the lip 18 of the cup 14 is about mm. Although the cups areconventional. l have had good success using a cup which is about 13mmthick where it joins the stem. Of course each cup tapers to a featheredge at the lip 18.

Those skilled in the art. with normal ingenuity. will think of many usesto which these devices may be utilized. E.g.. in carrying large piecesof glass. they can be attached one suction cup to the device and theholes through the stems can be used as a handhold. Or. two pieces ofglass can be attached together and the hand inserted between the twopieces of glass to the hole as a handheld. When it is desired to releasethe load. all that is necessary is to apply slight pressure upon theedges 26 of the web 24 and this spoils the vacuum within the cup and thevacuum device is quickly released from whatever object or item to whichit is attached.

The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do notclaim to have invented all the parts. elements or steps described.Various modifications can be made in construction, material.arrangement. and operation. and still be within the scope of myinvention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patentprotection are measured by and defined in the following claims. Therestrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do notpoint out what an infringement of this patent would be. but are toenable the reader to make and use the invention.

SUBJECT MATTER CLAIMED FOR PROTECTION:

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vacuum holder having a. an arcuate suction cup with a sphericalconcavity, a flexible circular lip peripherally surrounding theconcavity. and

b. an integral stem. extending from the side of the cup opposite thespherical concavity c. the stem coaxial with the cup and the sphericalcavity d. attachment means on the stem for attaching items thereto:

e. An IMPROVED VACUUM BREAKER COM- PRlSlNG:

f. a web of planar configuration having one edge integral with said stemand extending radially therefrom. another edge of said web extendingfrom the intersection of said stem and said cup to said lip of said cupand being integral with said cup.

g. the web aligned with the axis of the stem.

h. so that when the web is pushed toward the stem it lifts the lip ofthe cup thus breakinng the vacuum of the cup.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation ofj. a second web diametrically opposed to the first recited web.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with additional limitations of j.a second suction cup k. integral with the stem.

m. the two suction cups being symetrical.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said attaching meansincludes:

j. a hole diametrically through the stem.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 with additional limitations of k.a second suction cup m. integral with the stem.

n. the two suction cups being symetrical.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 with an additional limitation ofo. a second web diametrically opposed to the first recited web. each webattached to each cup.

1. In a vacuum holder having a. an arcuate suction cup with a sphericalconcavity, a flexible circular lip peripherally surrounding theconcavity, and b. an integral stem, extending from the side of the cupopposite the spherical concavity c. the stem coaxial with the cup andthe spherical cavity d. attachment means on the stem for attaching itemsthereto; e. An IMPROVED VACUUM BREAKER COMPRISING: f. a web of planarconfiguration having one edge integral with said stem and extendingradially therefrom, another edge of said web extending from theintersection of said stem and said cup to said lip of said cup and beingintegral with said cup, g. the web aligned with the axis of the stem, h.so that when the web is pushed toward the stem it lifts the lip of thecup thus breakinng the vacuum of the cup.
 1. In a vacuum holder havinga. an arcuate suction cup with a spherical concavity, a flexiblecircular lip peripherally surrounding the concavity, and b. an integralstem, extending from the side of the cup opposite the sphericalconcavity c. the stem coaxial with the cup and the spherical cavity d.attachment means on the stem for attaching items thereto; e. An IMPROVEDVACUUM BREAKER COMPRISING: f. a web of planar configuration having oneedge integral with said stem and extending radially therefrom, anotheredge of said web extending from the intersection of said stem and saidcup to said lip of said cup and being integral with said cup, g. the webaligned with the axis of the stem, h. so that when the web is pushedtoward the stem it lifts the lip of the cup thus breakinng the vacuum ofthe cup.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additionallimitation of j. a second web diametrically opposed to the first recitedweb.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with additional limitationsof j. a second suction cup k. integral with the stem, m. the two suctioncups being symetrical.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid attaching means includes: j. a hole diametrically through the stem.5. The invention as defined in claim 4 with additional limitations of k.a second suction cup m. integral with the stem, n. the two suction cupsbeing symetrical.